Tractive device for tires



May 12 1931. I BURRELL 1,805,037 Q TRACTIVE DEVICE FOR TIRES Filed May24; 1928 a t wanton I GeorgeRBurrdL.

Patented May 12, 1%31 S'E'TS uru'r GEOBGE R. BURRELL, OF AKRON, OHIO,ASS

xenon TO THE GOODYEAR was eanunnrm' COMPANY, or AKRON, orrro,nooarorterrorror oi-rro 'rnncrrvn: nnvron non Trans Application filedMay 24,

My invention relates to tractive devices for vehicle tires and it hasparticular relation to devices of the above-designated charactercommonly known as anti-skid chains.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved side member to beemployed in conjunction with thecross links of anti-skid chains. p

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide an anti-skid chain inwhich rubber cross links are connected to the annular members disposedat the sides of the tire, prior to the vulcanization of the cross links.

Heretofore, anti-skid composed of metallic side links having rub hertractive elements secured transversely thereof, which tractive elementswere formed separately by assembling strips of fabric and rubber,folding their ends about suitable metallic anchoring means, andthereafter vulcanizing the assembly. While the service rendered by thistype of tractive device has been proven to be very satisfactory, itscommercial success might be increased greatly by any material reductionin the manufacturing cost. Moreover, during operation of an anti-skidchain of this type, the anchoring means and the individual linkscomposing the a side members slapped back and forth against the tire andconsequently caused considerable noise and wear on the tire.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an improved noiseless sidemember is provided by twisting a plurality of wires together andspreading them at spaced intervals, thereby forming loops or eyes towhich the tractive elements are adapted to be secured. Another featureof the invention resides in securing the tractive elements directly tothe side members, thus obviating the necessity of having anchoring meansbetween the tractive elements and the side 5 members.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, ofwhich;

chains have been 7 Figure 1 is an elevationalview, showing 1923. SerialNo. 280,216;

a p'ortion'of a tire having one'for of the invention applied thereto; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentaryplan view of the anti-skid chain shown byFigure 1; and

Figure?) is a fragmentary plan view'showing' another form of theinvention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, an antiskid chain 9, embodying theprinciples 0'" theinvention, includes a pair of side members 1'0 and 11disposed upon opposite sides of a tire 12, which members are composed inthe present'instance of two twisted wires 13 and 14:. However, it ist'obe understood thaeasmeny wires may be employed as found desirable toattain proper flexibility of the side members.

provided at opposite. ends with releasable fastening devices 15 ofconventional fco'nstruction, which are employed; for securing the chainsupon aftire. tfinter vals t e The side members are. I

wires 13a1'id 14 composing the members 10 andll are separated materiallyinorder to provide eyes 16. Inthe construction shown by Fig. 3 elements17 composedof rubber cross'm'ernbers' 18 and 19 are provided at theirends with anchoring means or links QO 'ad apted to be engaged inoppositely disposed eyes 16 formed in the side members 10 and 11. f

in the construction shown b'y'fFig'ur'es 1',

and 2,, thetractive elements 17, instead of being connected to theeyes16 by intermediate anchoring links 20, are connected directly to sucheyes. disposed in parallel relation and the tractive elements areassembled thereon by connect ing superimposedstrips of rubber and fablie between the eyes 7 16'. Thereafter, the assembled chain is disposedin a suitable mold, and the rubber composing the tractive elements isvulcanized, Preferably, a con- The side members are 85.

siderable length of anti-skid chain is formed in this, manner and,following the vulcanizing' operation, it is'cut into individual chain Ilengths.

From the foregoing description, itisapparent that an anti-skid chain hasbeen provided, in which flexible and noiseless side members ofinexpensive manufacture are employed. Morever, by dispensing withanchoring means between the traetive elements and the side members, thenoise incidental to the use of such anchoring means is obviated, and atthe same time the cost of construction is decreased materially. Suchanti-skid chains are easily assembled upon the tires of motor vehicles,and owing to the relatively small number of movable elements composing achain, the wear on a tire is negligible.

Although I have illustrated only the preferred forms which the inventionmay as sume, and have described those forms in detail, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention but that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invetion or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an anti-skid chain, a pair of flexible normally annular membersadapted to be supported at the sides of a tire, each member comprising aplurality of twisted metallic wires, said wires being spaced laterallyat intervals in the length of the member to form eyes for connectingtraetive devices to the members.

2. An anti-skid. chain comprising a pair of normally annular membersadapted to be supported at the sides of a tire, each member comprising aplurality of twisted elements, said elements being spaced laterally atintervals in the length of the member to form eyes, and rubbertractive'de vices having their ends looped through the eyes,'andvulcanized to form integral connections.

3. An anti-skid chain comprising a pair of normally annular membersadapted to be, supported at the sides of a tire, each member comprisinga plurality of twisted elements, said elements being spaced laterally atintervals in the length of the member to form eyes, and rubber traetivedevices having their ends looped about portions of the side members, andvulcanized to form integral connections.

4L. An anti-skid chain comprising a pair of normally annular membersadapted to be supported at the sides of a tire, each member beingprovided with circumferentially spaced integral eyes and rubber traetivedevices having their ends looped through the eyes and vulcanized to formintegral conneetions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 23rdday of May, 1928.

GEORGE R. BURRELL.

is not so limited,

